Water heater



June 19, 1934. R. MCNAUGHTQN 1,963,442

WATER HEATER Filed Oct. 3, 1935 Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER HEATER Robert I. McNaughton, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 3, 1933, Serial No. 692,010

12 Claims.

This invention relates in general to water heaters, and has for its object the provision ofY a heater of that type adapted to circulate the water and to obtain its heat from the hot Water in a Isteam boiler or the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a heater of the type set forth which will provide ample heat transference surface to properly heat the water when thereis only a small amount o-f .'re in the boiler, and yet to provide a means whereby an excessive heating of the water may be avoided when there is a hot fire in the boiler. It is an object that this heater shall be such as to positively induce a circulation of Y water at all "times, and that there will be circulation in all parts of the heater at all times sufficient to supply fresh water thereto and prevent a pocket of stale water being formed due to a cutting off of any part of the heater when there is a hot fire '1in the boiler.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a heater in which the water to be heated is circulated through a plurality of heat transfer tubes located in the path of the hot water, and to prolvide a means whereby one or more of such heat transfer tubes can be shut off so as to prevent an overheating of the Water when there is a hot fire in the boiler. For the purpose of preventing an overheating of any one of the heat transfer tubes thus cut off, and for the purpose of preventpanying drawing in which like Vnumerals'indicate corresponding parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view; parts being broken away, illustrating a water heater constructed in accordance with this invention and secured in position.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation showing the front head of the heater illustrated in Figure 1 looking from the left endthereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3 3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1. Y

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating one of the means for cutting off certain of the heater tubes while a hot fire is being maintained.

In accordance with this invention, and for the purpose of mounting the water heater embodying this invention, an opening of proper size is formed in the Wall 1 of the boiler Within which the heater is to be placed. A collar 2 having a flange 3 seated4 on the outer surface of the boiler wall 1, and a circular flange 4 disposed Within the opening is secured in place in the. opening by welding .or other vsuitable means. 'I'his collar 2 is provided, with a threaded opening therethrough as indicated at 5 for the purpose of receiving the re. duced threaded part 6 of the front head 7 of the water heater. l f

The front head 7 is in the form of a casting and is provided with front and rear walls 8and 9 respectively. The interior of the front head is4 hollow and is formed with a crescent-shaped inlet chamber 10 thereinand with an outlet passage 11 therethrough, the passage as illustrated being disposed at the top ofthe head and separated from the inlet chamber by means of a dividing wall or partition 12. I

Communicating with the interior of the inlet chamber 10 is an inlet opening 13 having an 'exterior projecting part r1'4 threaded as at 15 for the purpose of receiving a connection. The outlet passage 11 is likewise provided with aneriterior extending part 16 threaded at 17 for the purpose of receiving a connecting pipe.

'I'he rear Wall of the front head is provided with a plurality of openings 18 adapted to receive the forward ends of a corresponding number of heat transfer tubes 19. These tubes preferably have their ends projecting into the interior ofthe inlet chamber 10 as illustrated at 20 for a purpose which will be presently described. It will be understood that the heat transfertubes 19 may beconstructed of any suitable material for conducting heat to the water circulating through the tubes, such as copper, brass or aluminum for instance. v f

The rear ends of the heat transfer tubes are adapted to communicate with the interior 21. of the rear head 22 of the water heater. As will be noted in Figure 4, this rear head 22 is of cylindrical construction similar to the front head 7, but p that it is provided with a single cylindrical chamber therein rather than with a crescent-shaped chamber and the outlet passage as in the case of the front head. It is also to be noted that the front ends of the heat transfer tubes 19 are disj posed substantially lower than the rear ends of these tubes. Although part of Figure 1 has been broken away in order to make it commensurate with the size of the drawing, this difference in height of the two ends of the corresponding tubes 19 will be clearly apparent and is for the purpose of inducing a circulation of water due to the heating of the Water within the tubes 19. As the are, however, smaller individually than any of the water in these tubes becomes heated, it naturally becomes lighter and tends to rise. This will cause it to flow toward the high or rear end of the heat transfer tubes 19 and into the chamber 21 in the rear head 22. These tubes communicate with the rear head in much the same manner as with the front head, namely by projection of their rear ends 23 through openings 24 provided in the front Wall of the rear head.

At the upper side of the front wall of this rear head, there is provided a larger opening corresponding in size to the exterior diameter of the outlet tube 25. This opening 26 is adapted to receive the rear end 27 of this outlet tube 25 in much the same manner that the openings 24 receive the rear end 23 of the heat transfer tubes 19. The forward end of the outlet tube 25 is in communication with the rear end of the passage 11 through the front head. For the purpose of receiving the forward end 28 of this outlet tube, the rear end of the passage 11 is formed with a countersunk por-' that the rear end 27 of the outlet tube 25 is dis posed lower than the forward end of this tube. Thus when hot water enters this tube and when it is. heated within the tube, it tends to rise and move toward the passage 11 through the front head.

In order to insure a thorough and adequate heating of the water passing through this water heater, there have been provided a number of heat transfer tubes 19 rather than a single tube,

and in addition to providing greater heat transfer surface, these tubes are made of such size that their combined area will be considerably larger than the cross sectional area either of the intake opening 13', the outlet tube 25, or the outlet passage 11. Thus, the flow of Water through these tubes 19 will be much slower than through any of the other openings mentioned. These tubes 19,

openings mentioned so that full advantage can be taken of the increased heating surface provided by the larger number of small tubes.

While the heater as just described may be properly designed so as to heat the water to an even degree of temperature when a constant fire is maintained, it has been found that necessary variation in the ring to meet different conditions Will cause a heater designed for any given set of conditions to heat the water too much at certain times and too little at other times. For the purpose of overcoming this difficulty, there have been provided in this invention a plurality of valves 30 having valve seat engaging surfaces 31 formed on one end thereof and adapted to engage valve seats in the front ends of the heat transfer tubes 19. It is not necessary to provide one of these valves for every heat transfer tube but only for a sufcient number to, enable the heating of the water to beI properlyv controlled. These valves 31 are each provided with a groove or slot 32 across one part of the base thereof so that when the valve is closed for the purpose of shutting off any given tube avery small amount of water will still be adlmitted to the tube in order to keep the water supply within the tube fresh and to keep the tube from overheating.

The valves 30 are each provided with an interior opening extending from the shank for a part of the distance therethrough and interiorly threaded for the purpose of receiving a screw 33. This screw 33 is formed on the end of an operating stem 34 which supports the valves 30 and actuates the same to open or closed position as the case may be. This stem 34 is rotatably mounted within a collar or bushing 35, the bushing itself being provided with threads 36 for engagement with the threaded openings 37 provided for that purpose in the front wall 8 of the front head '7. This bushing 35 is provided with a countersink in its rear face for the purpose of receiving the enlarged shoulder portion 38 of the operating stem 34. The opposite or exterior face of the bushing 35 is formed With a pocket 40 adapted to receive a collar 39 which is secured to the exterior end of the operating stem 34. This pocket 40 also surrounds the exterior end 41 of the operating stem which is adapted to receive a key to be used in actuating the valve 30 from open to closed position or vice versa.

In order to prevent leakage of Water past the operating. stern through the bushing 35, and in order to prevent the action of Water from interfering with the action of the operating stem within the valve 3G, there is provided a metal bellows 42 surrounding the operating stem 34 and sealed to the rear face of the bushing 35 and to the shank or front end of the valve 30. This metal bellows is preferably made of brass or some similar material so as to allow free movement of the valve 30 in an axial direction in opening or closing the valve. the function of preventing rotative movement of the valve 30 and thus allowing the rotative movement of the stern 34 to move the valve axially. The metal bellows thus serves the double function of preventing access of Water to the operating stem 34 and leakage past the same, and of preventing rotative movement while permitting axial movement of the valve itself.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that a means has been provided for carrying out all of the objects of this invention in a novel and thoroughly practical and satisfactory manner. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be 'made in the details of construction or arrangements of parts of this invention as illustrated in the drawing without, however, departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim iszl. A water heater comprising a front head having an inlet chamber therein and an outlet passage therethrough above said chamber, and having an inlet opening` through the front wall of said chamber, heat transfer tubes communicating with said chamber through the rear wall thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rear head having a chamber therein in communication with the rear ends of said tubes, an outlet tube communicating at its rear end with the upper portion of said chamber in the rear head and joined at its forward end to the rear end of said outlet passage through the front head.

2. A water heater comprising a front head having an inlet chamber therein and an outlet passage therethrough above said chamber, and having an inlet opening through the front wall of said chamber, heat4 transfer tubes communi-v cating with said chamber through the rear wall thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rear head having a chamber therein incommunication with the rear ends of said tubes, an outlet tube communicating at its rear end with the upper portion of said chamber in the rear head and joined at its forward end'to the rear end of said outlet passage through the front head, said inlet opening, outlet tube, and outlet passage being of larger cross sectional area than any one of said heat transfer tubes and of smaller cross sectional area than all of said heat transfer tubes combined.

3. A water heater comprising a front head having an inlet chamber therein and an outlet passage therethrough above said chamber and having an inlet openingV through the front wall of said chamber, a plurality of heat transfer tubes having their front endsprojecting through the rear wall of said chamber and communicating therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom at a slight upward inclination, ar rearhead having achamber therein in communicationwith the rear ends of said tubes, an outlet tube com'- municating at its rear end with the upper portion of said chamber in the 4rear head, extending forwardly at a slight upward inclination and joined at its-forward end to the rear end of said outlet passage through the front head, said inlet opening, outlet tube, and outlet passage being of larger cross sectional area than any one of said heat transfer tubes and of smaller cross sectional area than all of said heat transfer tubes combined.

4. A water heater comprising a front headv having an inlet chamber therein and an outlet passage therethrough above said chamber, and having an inlet opening through the front wall of said chamber, a plurality of heat transfer tubes having their front ends projecting through the rear wall of said chamber and communicating therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rear head having a chamber therein in communication with the rear ends of said tubes, an outlet tube communicating at its rear end with the upper portion of said chamber in the rear head and joinedl at its forward end to the rear end of said outlet passage through the front head, and valve means in said front head for individually and selectively closing the forward ends of certain of said heat transfer tubes to regulate thev degree of heat imparted to water.

passing through the heater.

5. A water heater comprising a front head .having an inlet chamber therein and an outlet passage therethrough above said chamber, and having an inlet opening through the front wall of said chamber, a plurality of heat transfer tubes having their front ends projecting through vthe rear wall of said chamber and communicating therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rear head having a chamber therein in communication with the rear ends of said tubes, an

outlet tube communicating at its rear end with vthe upper portion of said chamber in the rear head and joined at its forward end to the rear 'end of said outlet passage through the front head, and valve means in said front head for individually and selectively closing the forward ends of cer- ,than any one of said heat transfer tubes and of transfer tubes combined. y

6. A water heater comprising a front head having an inlet chamber therein and an outlet passage therethrough above said chamber, and having an inlet opening through the front wall ofA said chamber, a plurality of heat transfer tubes having their front ends projecting through the rear wall of said chamber and communicating therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rear head having a chamber therein in communication with the rear ends of said tubes, an outlet tube communicating at its rear end with the upper portion of said chamber in the rear head and joined at its forwardl end to the rear end of said outlet Vpassage-through the front head, and valve means in said front head for individually and selectively closing the forward ends of certain of said heat transfer tubes to regulate the degree of heat imparted to water passing through the heater, each of saidvalve means having a slot across one face thereof whereby a very small quantity of water will be admitted to a closed rtube to prevent the water therein from becomingstale and the tube from becoming overheated.

f 7.- A'water heater comprising a front head having an inletfchamber therein and an outlet passage therethrough above said chamber, and having an inlet opening through the front wall Yof said chamber, a plurality of heat transfer tubes having their front ends projecting through the rear wall of said chamber and communicating therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rear head having a chamber therein in communication with the rear ends of said tubes, an outlet tube communicating at its rear end with the upper portion of said chamber in the rear head and joined at its forward end to the rear end of said outlet passage through the front head, and valve means in said front head for individually and selectively seating against and closing' the forward ends of certain of said heat transfer tubes to regulate the degree of heat imparted to water passing through the heater.

8. A wat-er heater comprising a front head having an inlet chambertherein and an outlet passage therethroughabove said chamber, and hav-i ing an inlet opening through the front wall of said chamber, heat transfer tubes communicating with said chamber through the rear wall thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rear head having a chamber therein ,in communication with the rear ends of said tubes, an outlet tube communicating at its rear end with the upper portion of said chamber in the rear head and joined at its forward end to the rear end of said outlet passage through the front head, valve means in said front head for individually and selectively closing the forward ends of certain of said heat transfer tubes, and means for opening and closing said valve means and extending through the front wall of said inlet chamber for actuation from the exterior thereof.

9. A water heater comprisingV a front head having an inlet chamber therein and an outlet passage therethrough above said chamber, and having an inlet opening through the front wall of said chamber, heat transfer tubes communicating with said chamber through the rear wall thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rear head having a chamber therein in communication with the rear ends of said tubes, an outlet tube communicating at its rear end with the upper portion of said chamber in the rear head and joined at its forward end to the rear end of said outlet passage smaller cross sectional'area than all of said heat through the front head, valve means in said front head for individually and selectively closing the forward ends of certain of said heat transfer tubes, said valve means being hollowed and interiorly threaded for a portion only of its length, means for preventing rotative but permitting axial movement of said Valve means, an operating stem having a portion in threaded engagement with said interiorly threaded portion of the valve means and extending through the front wall of said inlet chamber for actuation from the exterior thereof, and means for preventing axial but permitting rotative movement of said operating stem.

l0. A water heater comprising a front head having an inlet chamber therein and an outlet passage therethrough above said chamber, and having an inlet opening through the front wall of said chamber, heat transfer tubes communicating with said chamber through the rear wall thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rear head having a chamber therein in communication with the rear ends of said tubes, an outlet tube communicating at its rear end with the upper portion of said chamber in the rear head and joined at its forward end to the rear end of said outlet passage through the front head, valve means in said front head for individually and selectively closing the forward ends of certain of said heat transfer tubes, said valve means being hollowed and interiorly threaded for a portion only of its length, an operating stem having a portion in threaded engagement with said interiorly threaded portion of the valve means and extending through the front wall of said inlet chamber for actuation from the exterior thereof, means for preventing axial but permitting rotative movement of said operating stem, and bellows surrounding said operating stem within the chamber and sealed at one end to said valve means and at the other to the front wall of the chamber around the operating stem to prevent rotative but permit axial movement of said valve means and to prevent water from reaching and leaking out past said operating stem.

ll. A water heater comprising a front head having an inlet chamber therein and an outlet passage therethrough above said chamber, and having an inlet opening through the front wall of said chamber, heat transfer tubes communieating with said chamber through the rear wall thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rear head having a chamber therein in communication with the rear ends of said tubes, an outlet tube communicating at its rear end with the upper portion of said chamber in the rear head and joined at its forward end to the rear end of said outlet passage through the front head, valve means in said front head for individually and selectively closing the forward ends of certain of said heat transfer tubes, and means for opening and closing said valve means and extending through the front wall of said inlet chamber for actuation from the exterior thereof, each of said valve means having a slot across one face thereof whereby a very small quantity of water will be admitted to a closed tube to prevent the water therein from becoming stale and the tube from becoming overheated.

l2. A water heater comprising a front head having an inlet chamber therein and an outlet passage therethrough above said chamber, and having an inlet opening through the front wall of said chamber, heat transfer tubes communicating with said chamber through the rear Wall thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rear head having a chamber therein in communication with the rear ends of said tubes, an outlet tube communicating at its rear end with the upper portion of said chamber in the rear head and joined at its forward end to the rear end of said outlet passage through the front head, valve means in said front head for individually and selectively closing the forward ends of certain of said heat transfer tubes, said valve means being hollowed and interiorly threaded for a portion only of its length, an operating stem having a portion in threaded engagement with said interiorly threaded portion of the valve means and extending through the front wall of said inlet chamber for actuation from the exterior thereof, means for preventing axial but permitting rotative movement of said operating stem, and bellows surrounding said operating stem within the chamber and sealed at one end to said valve means and at the other to the front wall of the chamber around the operating stem to prevent rotative but permit axial movement of said valve means and to prevent water from reaching and leaking out past said operating stem, each of said valve means having a slot across one face thereof whereby a very small quantity of water will be admitted to a closed tube to prevent the water therein from becoming stale and the tube from becoming overheated.

ROBERT I. MCNAUGHTON. 

